Rotary brush assembly

Abstract

A brush assembly comprises a support rotatable about an axis and an annular brush essentially consisting of a brush band and an array of bristles connected thereto and projecting radially therefrom. The brush band and the bristle array extending on the support obliquely to a perpendicular to the axis of the support. Thus a longitudinal extension of the band and also the bristle array are connected to the support extending at an angle to the axis deviating from a perpendicular orientation with respect to the axis of the support.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A brush assembly comprises:
 a support rotatable about an axis; and   an annular brush essentially consisting of a brush band and an array of bristles connected thereto and projecting radially therefrom, the brush band and the bristle array extending on the support obliquely to a perpendicular to the axis of the support.   
     
     
         2 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal extension of the brush band and the axis of the support form an acute angle of about 60″ to less than 90°. 
     
     
         3 . The brush assembly according to claim the brush band is wound in more than one turn about the axis of the support and is fixed to the support. 
     
     
         4 . The brush assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the brush band if wound around the support in a helix centered on the axis. 
     
     
         5 . The brush assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the brush band wound is wound at a uniform angle helically around the axis of the support with bristles of the array extending generally radially of the axis. 
     
     
         6 . The brush assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the support is formed with a radially outwardly open groove holding the brush band. 
     
     
         7 . The brush assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the brush band fits snugly without play in the groove. 
     
     
         8 . The brush assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the groove has walls extending from a cylindrical outer surface of the support. 
     
     
         9 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush band is fixed at least at points to the support. 
     
     
         10 . The brush assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the connection of the brush band to the support is mechanical and/or adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush band is a plastic textile strip fixed to the support. 
     
     
         12 . The brush assembly according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a stop engaged into the rotating bristle array.   
     
     
         13 . A rotary brush tool having a housing, a drive and a brush assembly as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method of working a surface of a workpiece with a brush assembly according to  claim 1 , where the bristle array of the ring brush extends obliquely to the axis on the support and engages the surface at successively offset locations. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein individual impingement zones of each turn of the bush band overlap at edges.  16 . A rotary brush assembly comprising:
 a support drum rotatable about an axis and having an outer surface centered on the axis;   a band wrapped helically around the drum at a pitch between 60° and 90°;   means securing the band to the surface of the drum; and   an array of bristles fixed in and projecting radially from the band.  17 . The brush assembly according to claim  16 , the assembly defined in  claim 1 , wherein each bristle is formed by one leg of a two-shaped strand having two legs each forming a respective bristle and a bight extending between radial inner ends of the respective bristles and lying between the band and the outer surface.